New beginnings are wonderful. There is always a sense of optimism and hope.
Each time we go fishing it’s a new beginning. A chance to correct what we did wrong the last time, try a different fly, work on our presentation, fish a new place, extend our horizons. The success of our outing is in our own hands and capabilities to persevere. If we have success we smile, and walk a little taller. Our fishing success, in other words, is our responsibility. What we do is who we are. The fish need to co-operate, and fishing in fishless water is an exercise in futility. To avoid that we do our homework and try to fish where fish reside. We do a number of other things to help increase our odds. Some of us even have a lucky hat or fly to protect us against those things which keep luck from smiling on our endeavors. But the final responsibility for our fishing success is the same as it is in all of our daily lives.
Your writings is always so thoughtful and on target. I am one of those people you mention in your article who prefers small gathering and solitude especially at my age. I am not normally a joiner or serious public advocate of issues, but things are happening that will seriously impact everything I have been raised to think is right.
One in particular is the assault on the AuSable river in Michigan that I have grew to love and call my second home. The Grayling Fish Hatchery and it’s owner, Vogler, has received a permit to increase fish production from 20,000 lbs to 300,000 lbs per year without adequate environmental quality considerations for water discharge into the AuSable River. The Anglers of the AuSable organization is currently challenging this decision in court. If Vogler is allowed to proceed without installation of proper water quality equipment, tons of bad water will be discharged into the river destroying trout and the insects they feed on. This action could destroy the already fragile environment in the Holy Waters and eventually destroy the entire fishery. Not only will it negatively impact the overall economy of the Grayling area, it will impact property values along the river and take us back 100 years. With all of that said, I have become and advocate against this destructive action by supporting the opposition financially. Rusty Gates will come back to haunt us if we don’t fight this with every fiber. This is only one example of government policies that are killing everything we have known to be great about this country. Hopefully, our case will be won, but you never know.